(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, H.E. Edwin W. Carrington ended a one day official visit to Montserrat during which he held discussions with Chief Minister Dr. Lowell Lewis on a number of Regional matters of relevance to Montserrat.

The Secretary-General reiterated the theme of “keeping faith with the people of Montserrat”, with varying examples and illustrations to a cross section of Montserratian society; government, members of the official opposition, representatives of the private sector, and H.E. Deborah Barnes Jones Governor of Montserrat,. A number of significant positions were expressed, during the day, all pointing, to the special place of Montserrat in the Caribbean Community.

Chief Minister, Dr. Lowell Lewis, highlighted the growing commitment of Montserrat to CARICOM and expressed the hope for even greater CARICOM support for Montserrat. Minister of Education, Health and Community Services, Honourable John Osborne, described Montserrat as “more CARICOM than ever before”; given the breadth and diversity of skills among CARICOM citizens working in and contributing to the development of Montserrat.

The Secretary General’s mission to Montserrat is in keeping with his practice of briefing new Heads of Government in CARICOM Member States.

The mission paid particular attention to the issue of the “entrustments” from the United Kingdom government which is needed by Montserrat to enable it to become a signatory to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which includes the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.